Greeks tidy up University City

Hundreds of Greeks raked leaves, cleaned out drained areas and picked up trash in designated locations from Baltimore to Chestnut streets Saturday during Community Service Day, one of the closing events of this year's Greek Week. Approximately 250 members of the InterFraternity, Panhellenic and BiCultural InterGreek Councils participated in the day-long event, according to Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Program Director Larry Moses. BIG-C President and College senior Jason Rosas said he was "very happy with the turnout" for the event, despite some of his organization's absence due to off-campus regional chapter meetings. "We are constantly reminded that we live in a very urban area," IFC Vice President of Academics and Community Programming Jason Judd said. "[The clean-up] helps us appreciate the environment a little more." The Tau Epsilon Phi brother added that the IFC initially planned to join the Philly Pride community service organization for volunteer efforts throughout Philadelphia, but decided to focus on the University City area as part of Greek Week efforts to "attract people on campus" and increase the presence of Greeks in the community. "We want to make our presence known around this area as people who take care of the community," the College senior said. "We especially feel this is important since this is Greek Week, the time when we should be making our presence known on campus anyway." Pi Beta Phi sister Ann Wang, who publicized the event to Panhel chapters, said the participants "worked together really well" to ensure that the streets were "cleaned up quickly and efficiently." "The enthusiasm was there," she said. "Those who were able to come out had a great time." Impressed with the day's results, Judd said he and OFSA Assistant Director Tom Carroll are planning another Community Service Day in November. In addition to participating in the clean-up, BIG-C members donated blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive held at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia -- an activity not directly affiliated with the all-Greek Community Service Day. Rosas said his organization felt it was important to participate in the drive because African Americans and Latinos donate the lowest percentage of blood, but require the most blood for transfusions. Following the clean-up, members celebrated the end of Greek Week with the annual Greek Festival. Last year's festival was held in the Quadrangle in an effort to attract interested freshman as they passed by the event, but OFSA relocated the event to Superblock this year, "simply for a matter of convenience," Wang said. The Wharton sophomore said holding the event in the Quad -- which required a major clean-up effort -- may have "overwhelmed" the dormitory's staff. While last year's festival also helped provide interested freshmen with information, Wang said Saturday's event catered more to current Greeks and other upperclassmen. Greek Week -- which began last Saturday -- also included IFC and Panhel Open Houses last weekend, Meet the Greeks on Locust Walk Tuesday and mixers Thursday.

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